’Then you’ll keep your wife with no man’s interference, that’s all; for ne’er a penny will you get from me, my lad, unless you marry to please me a little, as well as yourself a great deal.  That’s all I ask of you.  I’m not particular as to beauty, or as to cleverness, and piano-playing, and that sort of thing; if Roger marries this girl, we shall have enough of that in the family.  I should not much mind her being a bit older than you, but she must be well-born, and the more money she brings the better for the old place.’

’I say again, father, I choose my wife for myself, and I don’t admit any man’s right of dictation.’

‘Well, well!’ said the squire, getting a little angry in his turn.  ’If I’m not to be father in this matter, thou shan’t be son.  Go against me in what I’ve set my heart on, and you’ll find there’s the devil to pay, that’s all.  But don’t let us get angry, it’s Sunday afternoon for one thing, and it’s a sin; and besides that, I’ve not finished my story.’

For Osborne had taken up his book again, and under pretence of reading, was fuming to himself, He hardly put it away even at his father’s request.

’As I was saying, Gibson said, when first we spoke about it, that there was nothing on foot between any of you four, and that if there was, he would let me know; so by-and-by he comes and tells me of this.’

‘Of what—­I don’t understand how far it has gone?’

There was a tone in Osborne’s voice the squire did not quite like; and he began answering rather angrily.

’Of this to be sure—­of what I’m telling you—­of Roger going and making love to this girl, that day he left, after he had gone away from here, and was waiting for the “Umpire” in Hollingford.  One would think you quite stupid at times, Osborne.’

’I can only say that these details are quite new to me; you never mentioned them before, I assure you.’

’Well; never mind whether I did or not.  I’m sure I said Roger was attached to Miss Kirkpatrick, and be hanged to her; and you might have understood all the rest, as a matter of course.’

‘Possibly,’ said Osborne, politely.  ’May I ask if Miss Kirkpatrick, who appeared to me to be a very nice girl, responds to Roger’s affection?’

‘Fast enough, I’ll be bound,’ said the squire, sulkily.  ’A Hamley of Hamley is not to be had every day.  Now, I’ll tell you what, Osborne, you’re the only marriageable one left in the market, and I want to hoist the old family up again.  Don’t go against me in this; it really will break my heart if you do.’

‘Father, don’t talk so,’ said Osborne.  ’I will do anything I can to oblige you, except—­’

‘Except the only thing I’ve set my heart on your doing.’

’Well, well, let it alone for the present.  There’s no question of my marrying just at this moment.  I’m out of health, and I’m not up to going into society, and meeting young ladies and all that sort of thing, even if I had an opening into fitting society.’